booked for a new year package
no festive spirit at all
terrible entertainment
very slow service 4 hours for an evening meal
had to help staff to clear tables or else the enternment would have never started at all
variable food some of it was nice but the buffet on the final evening was all the leftovers from our previous meals
never would go back there

Rooms are dated but generally clean. The main problems are with service, particularly in the restaurant and bar. Breakfast is a joke that fawlty towers would be proud of. You really couldn't make a worse attempt at it if you tried. Tables are not cleared. Eggs sitting in hot trays for hours. No staff on duty. No management on duty.
In the evening we went into the bar for drink and the barman was visibly drunk. When we ordered he tried to persuade us to buy large drinks ( as he appeared to try to do to every customer). When we said no he still poured them and charged us for them. Argued with us when we pointed this out.

Some firends who stayed here and had terrible service were offered a free return night but it was equally bad on the second visit.

This hotel needs new owners or management. Don't stay here until that happens, unless you want to be disappointed.

Eight of us met up in Inverness for a weekend break. We have stayed in the Royal Highland before and have always enjoyed our stay. Not this year!! The rooms were clean and comfortable but the service was chaotic. At our evening meal we waited an hour between our starters and main course, we were not offered sweets or coffee - no one came near us again! The breakfast was appalling. What there was left on the buffet table was cold and inedible. If you wanted milk, butter etc it was a case of going looking for it youself. We asked to speak with the Manager after the meal but as he was not around we asked for our complaint to be noted. This was never passed on. We were not alone in complaining. I am aware of several other groups staying in the hotel at the same time with similar complaints. The most frustrating aspect was the fact that regardless of when you asked to speak with the Manager he was never there and no one else had authority to deal with the complaints being made.

Having stayed here a few times in the past, I was somewhat dismayed to see reviews that made me wonder if this was the same beautiful Hotel I know. We were couples of varying generations and I must say it was BETTER than anticipated. Warm welcome from Receptionists, followed by magnificent rooms furnished to high quality, and as we were meeting family we dined in Ash Restaurant - excellent quality of freshly prepared food(not microwaveable nonsense!) and it was well presented along with friendly staff service from all. We retired to the lounge area with a drink and it was like home from home, gentle lighting as we caught up with family stories before heading to bed. We had a huge breakfast and the scrambled eggs were delicious and not overcooked, and some of the others had full bacon,eggs,haggis and the rest of the trimmings which was whole and hearty for our day ahead.
I would suggest anyone wanting luxury at a reasonable price, try for yourself and dont let the fact it has limited car parking put you off- after all it IS originally a Railway Hotel and on the doorstep for all modes of transport. If you have a car, use the 2 secure multi storey car parks on either side.